Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20108Hit and run · Co. Tipperary · 8 May 2022

Truck driver convicted of hit and run after damaging Tipperary property

On 8 May 2022 a truck hit a wall at Loughbeg, Thurles, County Tipperary, and drove off, leaving a hole in the wall and damage to a hedge. Stefan Florin, 32, of Mense, Raphoe, County Donegal, was arrested on the M7 hours later after gardaí responded to reports of erratic driving. He was convicted of hit and run at Thurles District Court, and the judge fined him €400 while he was not present in court. The conviction and fine were reported on 3 August 2023, and that is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted3 Aug
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A truck hit a wall in Loughbeg, Thurles, County Tipperary, and the driver drove off.
  • The homeowner found a hole in his wall and damage to a hedge, with no one on the road.
Where
The incident took place at Loughbeg, Thurles, County Tipperary.
When
The incident happened on 8 May 2022, at around 7pm according to the homeowner's account.
Investigation
  • A neighbour saw a truck driving away and photographed its licence plate.
  • The plate was registered to a business in Naas, which confirmed the defendant was driving the truck that day.
  • Stefan Florin, 32, was arrested on the M7 hours after the incident, after gardaí responded to reports of a truck driving erratically and he did not respond to them.
Charges
Stefan Florin was charged with hit and run and was convicted of that offence.
In court
  • The case was heard at Thurles District Court, where the defence argued there was no evidence the defendant caused the damage.
  • The judge said the evidence was circumstantial but enough to meet the threshold for conviction, and noted two previous Road Traffic Act convictions and a 2022 driving disqualification.
  • Stefan Florin was not in court to give evidence.
Sentence
The judge fined Stefan Florin €400.
Other details
The damage cost €13,000, which the homeowner's insurance covered, and the employer accepted liability for the damage.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA truck driver hit a wall in Tipperary and drove off. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatThe homeowner saw a hole in his wall and damage to a hedge, with no one on the road. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe hit and run took place at Loughbeg, Thurles. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe hit and run happened on 8 May 2022. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationA neighbour saw a truck driving away and photographed its licence plate. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe licence plate was registered to a business in Naas, which confirmed the defendant was driving the truck that day. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was arrested on the M7 hours after the incident. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí responded to calls about a truck driving erratically on the M7 and arrested the driver after he did not respond to them. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeThe driver was convicted of hit and run. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the evidence was circumstantial but enough to meet the threshold for conviction. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge fined the defendant €400. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe damage cost €13,000 and was covered by the homeowner's insurance. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe defence argued there was no evidence the defendant caused the damage. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe employer accepted liability for the damage. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was not in court to give evidence. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted two previous Road Traffic Act convictions and a 2022 driving disqualification. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Aug2023
    Convictedtipperarylive.ie, first report
    Truck driver who damaged a property in Tipperary is convicted of hit and run

    Reports the conviction and €400 fine at Thurles District Court. Gives the damage cost, the garda investigation, the arrest on the M7 and the defence argument. No existing case matches this incident.

    convicted, Stefan Florin, 32, male, namedStefan Florin